Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) will demand a congressional inquiry into the death of Navy Seaman August Provost III, a black gay sailor from Houston, reports KHOU-TV.
The 29-year-old sailor was found brutally murdered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton on June 30. Provost was shot three times and his body burned. Family members of August Provost say he had ongoing problems with fellow servicemen, and they suspect he was killed because he was gay. The Navy says there is "no evidence" to suggest that this was a hate crime.
Eight days after the death of Seaman Provost, authorities still have a "person of interest" in custody. No charges have been filed and no motive announced.
The announcement by Jackson-Lee—who has a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign—comes at the same time other members of the Congress are pressing for action. Sources tell Rod 2.0 the Congressional Black Caucus, National Black Justice Coalition, NAACP, and the Black Leadership Forum are making a joint statement demanding a full investigation by the Department of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy. Rep. Bob Filner (D) of suburban San Diego, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, says his panel will investigate, too. Filner wants also wants DoD and the Marine Corps to investigate whether the killing of the sailor was a hate crime.
Meanwhile, funeral arrangements have been finalized for the Houston native who was brutally killed at Camp Pendleton. The viewing for August Provost will be Friday, July 10 at 10 am. at Wright Grove Baptist Church in Houston. Provost will be buried at Veterans Memorial Cemetery. A candlelight vigil will also take place on Friday at 7:30 pm outside Camp Pendelton.
WOW!
Between her rousing comments at Michael Jackson's Memorial yesterday and this bold brave move, I am falling in love with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee!
POWER TO THE SISTER!!!!
Posted by: TheRevKev | 08 July 2009 at 10:10
Rod, I notice you have conspicusously avoided mentioning NBJC.
WHERE IS NBJC???
Posted by: Shane Moseley | 08 July 2009 at 10:14
Let's see if August Provost gets the same amount of 50+ comments and the same amount of attention that the Tyler Perry movie actor is getting.
Posted by: Kevin Perez | 08 July 2009 at 10:38
Thank you Rev Kev!
I love this woman and all of her brilliance!
Kevin Perez ... I would hope our community would be so active and engaged. Prob wont happpen tho
Posted by: Sean Beasley | 08 July 2009 at 11:03
Yeah I'm a groupie for her ever since that speech yesterday. That was soooo powerful. She seems like a real ally for the underdog.
Posted by: S. Flemming | 08 July 2009 at 11:06
Kevin, this one won't. Most readers of this blog doesn't seem to be concerned about the everyday people just the ones that are famous, semi-famous, or in Mr. Carter's case quasi-famous.
Anyways, this will bring some major light to this tragedy. However, it has be an energized efforted on a large number of members of the CBC that will get anything major with this investigation.
Posted by: kayman | 08 July 2009 at 23:57
I've always LOVED Sheila Jackson Lee, OMG words can not express how much how inspirational she is to me. When I turn on BET and I see these so called role model for my generation I get sad because I know it's Women like Sheila who exemplify class and courage.
Posted by: cullen | 09 July 2009 at 00:37
Rod, I just discovered your great site and I am so embarrassed that this is the first I've heard about the Provost story. I'm a 52 year old white gay man who regularly consumes news in our daily paper in Philly, Huffington Post, Countdown with Keith Olberman, Rachel Maddow, the Advocate and more. Like Jena 6, this case seems to have escaped the spotlight of the 'white-centric' media. Is Nancy Grace outraged nightly about this (or is she still fixated on Natalie Holloway)? It's an outrage and a disgrace on so many levels. Sheila Jackson Lee is to be commended. Congressman Patrick Murphy from my region is an Iraq war vet who has just begun to lead the charge in congress to ovderturn 'don't ask, don't tell'. I'm notifying his office to make sure he is aware of this tragedy since, shamefully, I was not.
Posted by: Steve McLean | 13 July 2009 at 12:33